title: Patient greeting preferences for themselves and their providers in a military family medicine clinic.
abstract: Using the proper greeting may be important to help establish rapport between health care providers and their patients. It may be particularly useful for family medicine physicians working in a military medical facility, where military rank and traditions are important. A total of 259 anonymous surveys were collected from patients treated at a military family medicine clinic. Most of the patients who completed the survey preferred to shake hands with their provider, be greeted using only their first name, and preferred that the provider introduce themselves using their last name only. Active duty patients were more likely than civilians to prefer a handshake (odds ratio [OR] 3.05, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.46-6.39) and officers were more likely to prefer a handshake compared to enlisted service members (OR 3.29; 95% CI 1.18-9.20). Respondents who were older were more likely to prefer a formal introduction by their provider compared to respondents under 35 years old (OR 2.92, 95% CI 1.35-6.31). Although most patients in this facility expressed a preference for how they would like to be greeted, providers are still encouraged to ask their patients how they would prefer to be addressed.
authors.affiliation: Family Medicine Department, Naval Hospital Okinawa, PSC 482 FPO AP 96362-1600.
authors.forename: John E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Laird
authors.forename: Jerlyn C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Tolentino
authors.forename: Cynthia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gray
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008887:Military Medicine; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D009790:Occupations; D057240:Patient Preference; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D014481:United States